Agro Industries
A report on Proposed Industries based on farming of Some flowers and medicinal grass, which are found in plenty in the Raebareli District has been prepared by The District Industry Centre, Raebareli with the help of scientist from Krishi Vigyan kendra, Raebareli..
Main flowers and grass among them are –
* Lemon Grass * Mentha Grass * Khus Grass * Rose * Gladiolus
Development blocks where Industries are proposed
Crop Blocks
1. Lemon Grass
2. Mentha Grass Bachrawan, Shivgarh, Sataon,Salon,Rahi, Maharajganj, Harchandpur
3. Khus Grass
4. Rose (Gulab) Rahi, Salon, Tiloi, Bahadurpur
5. Gladiolus Harchandpur,Rahi, Salon, Jagatpur, Bahadurpur
Proposed Area (Hectare)
Crop 2005-2006 2006-2007
1. Lemon Grass – –
2. Mentha Grass 400 500
3. Khus Grass – –
4. Rose (Gulab) 5 7
5. Gladiolus 50 10
Proposed Industries
Crop 2005-2006 2006-2007 Product
1. Lemon Grass – – –
2. Mentha Grass 160
200
Peppermint
3. Khus Grass – – –
4. Rose (Gulab) – – –
5. Gladiolus – – –
Thus there is proposal to establish approx. 27 units in next two financial years, which will give employment to about 130 persons on an avearage of 5 per unit. Training for these farming will be given by scientists of KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA, Raebareli. Loan facility is also available through Banks.
LEMON GRASS
The Biological name of Lemon Grass is “Symbopogon flexuous”. The oil which is produced from the lemon grass is in great demand in the country and also exported in large quantities.

The oil is a good source of “Citral ” used in Perfumery as well as production of Vitamin A. Planting is done in the last week of May or in the first week of June-July. The planting should be done at a distance of 60×30 cm. Improved varieties are “Pragati, Pranam, Cauveri, Krishna ” etc. During the first year of planting 2-3 cuttings are obtained. An yield of 35 to 45 tonnes is obtained. The yield of oil from second year onwards should be about 175 – 225 Kg per Hectare. An icome of Rs. 28,000 per Hectare may be received from the crop every year.
MENTHA GRASS
This belongs to the family Lamiaceae which yield essential oil on distillation. The various types of mint, commercially cultivated in India are Menthol mint (Menthaarvensis), Pepermint (Mentha piperita), Bergamotmint (Mentha citrata) and Specmint (Mentha Spicata). All the four species are extensively cultivated for their Oil and Aroma. Isolates like Menthol, Carvone, Linalyl Acetate, and Linalool are used in Pharmaceuticals, Food flavors, Cosmetics, Beverages and allied industries.
Mint thrives well in deep loam soil. In Northern Indian plains, planting of Mint is often done from December to February under Normal Planting conditions. On an average 400 to 500 Kg. of planting material are needed for One Hectare of land. Under proper care yield of oil is as high as 200 to 250 Kg. per Hectare in Menthol Mint. Improved varieties of Menthol Mint are Himalaya, Kosi & MAS-1.
Economics of Cultivation –

A. Total cost of cultivation per Hectare – Rs. 15,000/-
B. Return
(1) Oil yield – 200 Kg Per Hectare
(2) Oil Price – Rs. 350 – 800/- per Kg.
C. Cost of Oil produced – Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1,60,000/-
D. Net Profit – Rs. 55,000 to Rs. 1,45,000/- Per Hectare
KHUS GRASS
The biological name for Khus is ‘Vetiveria Zizaniodes’. It is also known as Vetiver. It contains an essential oil which has wide users in Soaps, Perfumery, and Cgewing tobacco industries. Vetiver occurs in wild states naturally.

Cultivation is also done on limited scale in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerla. Recently, farmers of North India have also taken up it’s cultivation.
Roots are used for extraction of oil. Oil recovery on commercial scale ranged from 0.5 to 0.8%. Thus minimum 5 Kg and maximum 25-30 Kg per Hectare oil can be produced. Net profit of Rs. 36,000 per hectare can be achieved.
ROSE (Gulab)
Rose is famous for it’s beauty and smell since ancient times. Mugal Kings had given a special place to Rose. It is the national flower of Britain. In our country also, with the rising demand for flowers, it’s Rose water, oil of Rose, Scent and Gulukand are also in great demand. These things are exported to other countries also. It’s varieties can be divided in 4 groups depending upon it’s use.


• Hybrid T – Bush like plants with flower on each branch. Double Delight, Super Star, Jawahar, Priyadarshini Arjun & Dr. P.D.lal are the vareities in this group.
• Floribunda – The size of Rose is smaller than Hybrid T but their number is more. Iceberg, Queen Elizabeth, Golden Times & Priya are some of the varieties in this group.
• Cut Flower – The varieties of this group are suitable for commercial crop. Some main varieties in this group are Happiness, Super Star, Queen Elizabeth, Sonia, Golden Times, Red success, Arjun, Raktgandha, Montrea etc.
• For Perfume & Oil Production – Varieties suitable for perfumes and oil production are Rojademesis, Eiffel Tower, Noorjehan etc.
Rose flower buds appear in April and upto second week of May sprout as flowers, which are to be picked. Picked flowers should be immediately transported in an aerated bags to the factory and put in the storage tanks filled with cold water till processing starts. No heating of rose flowers should be allowed during the transportation. The yield per hectare is 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes. Essential oil content in rose flower is 0.02 to 0.03% in subtropical conditions.
Keeping in view the present rate of Rs. 1,50,000/- per Kg. of the rose oil, the profiatability under subtropical conditions starts from 3rd year to the tune of Rs. 60,000 to 70,000 per Hectare and onwards.
GLADIOLUS
Gladiolus has an important place in commercial Cut Flowers all over the world. It’s farming is done mainly for the production of Spikes. There are 8 to 26 flowers on each spike which last for 7 to 15 days. These spikes are used for flower decoration. Farming of Gladiolus is most beneficial among cut flowers.


Foreign varieties – American Beauty, Friendship, Snow Prince, Oscar.Varieties of Gladiolus, which have better yield in Indian climate are as follows.

  • Local varieties – Mayur, Agni Rekha, Suchitra, Pusa, Suhagin Sadabahaar, Basant Bahaar, Jwala & Mukta etc.The cost involved is more in first year due to main expenditure on seeds. So the farmer should increase the area gradually. On an average 40,000 seeds can be sown in an area of 0.25 Hectare. The estimated income from this is approximately Rs. 67,300/- if the farmer takes loan of Rs. 70,000 from Bank on 14% and invest Rs. 18,900 from his own sources.